Following an intensive six-month period of evaluation and interviews, the final selections will be announced in early 2004. Astronaut candidates will report to the Johnson Space Center during the summer of 2004 to begin the basic training program to prepare them for future spaceflight assignments.

The application deadline is July 1, 2003. Applications received after July 1 will not be considered for the 2004 class but will remain on file for subsequent selection cycles.

The Astronaut Candidate Class of 2004 also will include educator astronauts, teachers who will join NASA's astronaut corps and encourage students to pursue studies in math and science. The Educator Astronaut Program (EAP) was announced in January, and applications closed April 30. More than 1,100 EAP applications have been processed. Information about the Educator Astronaut Program is available on the Internet at: http://edspace.nasa.gov

For more information about NASA and the Human Space Flight Program on the Internet, visit:http://www.nasa.gov

posted 05-27-2003 05:03 PM
With all of group 17 and 18 and a good number of 16 still to fly any thoughts on when the first astronaut from the 2004 group might fly?

Throw in possible smaller crews and reduced flight rate when the shuttle does fly again is there need for another selection?

I am sure a smaller astronaut corps with the personnel flying more often would be a far more cost effective solution

RodinaNew Member

Posts: From: Registered:

posted 05-27-2003 05:58 PM
Has anyone from 16, 17 or 18 quit prior to making a flight? The frustration must be enormous.

RobonautMember

Posts: 224From: Solihull, West Mids, EnglandRegistered: Mar 2002

posted 05-28-2003 02:14 PM
Ken

Just a guess on timescale but we could be looking at 10 years plus. With regard to the numbers af astronauts, there are a lot of ground support jobs for which NASA have decided trained astronauts are most suitable, hence the need to keep up the numbers.

Rodina

Since the first shuttle selection in 1978 no one has quit before making a first spaceflight. The last time that this did happen was with the 'Excess 11' scientist astronauts selected in 1967 (NASA Group 6).

Best wishes

Rob Wood

lunarrv15Member

Posts: 1295From: Cincinnati, Ohio, HamiltonRegistered: Mar 2001

posted 06-02-2003 02:01 PM
some of the pilots from the 16 group have flown. the two twin kelly brothers.